Leslie Massey
As of 2022, there are 5.5 million Australians with disabilities, representing 21.4% of the population. This is an increase from 4.4 million (17.7%) in 2018. The prevalence of disability is similar for men and women, with 21.0% of males and 21.8% of females reporting a disability. The likelihood of having a disability increases with age, with half of people aged 65 and over having a disability. This increase in the number of people with disabilities has significant implications for government planning and resource allocation in various sectors, including education, housing, and financial support.
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What You'll Learn
Labour force participation rates
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the labour force participation rate is the number of people in the labour force (both employed and unemployed) expressed as a percentage of the total population. In 2022, the labour force participation rate for people aged 15-64 with disabilities living in households was 60.5%, an increase from 53.4% in 2018. This indicates a positive trend in terms of disability inclusion in the workforce. However, it is important to note that the participation rate for people without disabilities was significantly higher at 84.9% in 2022, compared to 84.1% in 2018. This disparity highlights the ongoing challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in accessing employment opportunities.
The labour force participation rate among individuals with disabilities varies depending on the severity of their limitations. In 2022, 64.6% of those with moderate or mild limitations were in the labour force, while the participation rate for those with profound or severe limitations was significantly lower at 37.2%. This disparity underscores the additional barriers faced by individuals with more significant disabilities in entering the workforce. It is crucial that employers and the government address these challenges through reasonable accommodations and inclusive policies to ensure equal opportunities for all.
The unemployment rate for people with disabilities has shown improvement, decreasing from 10.3% in 2018 to 7.3% in 2022. However, it remains more than double the rate for people without disabilities, which stood at 3.1% in 2022. This persistent gap underlines the need for continued efforts to enhance employment prospects for individuals with disabilities. Modelling suggests that being a client of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) may reduce a person's chances of finding employment. Additionally, issues with transportation were reported by 26% of people with disabilities as a barrier to securing work, compared to 16% of job seekers without disabilities.
The type of employment and working arrangements also differ for people with disabilities. In 2022, one-third (33.4%) of individuals with disabilities were employed full-time, while over half (57.9%) of those without disabilities worked full-time. This disparity could be due to various factors, including the availability of accessible job opportunities, the need for flexible working arrangements, and the availability of suitable roles that accommodate individual limitations. The Australian Disability Network's statistics on the most common occupations for Australians with disabilities revealed that 23% worked as professionals, 15% as technicians or trade workers, 13% in clerical and administrative roles, and 12% as labourers.
It is worth noting that graduates with disabilities face additional challenges in the job market. On average, they take 61.5% longer to obtain full-time employment compared to their peers without disabilities. This delay could be attributed to various factors, including potential discrimination, lack of accommodations, or limited accessible job opportunities. Furthermore, individuals with disabilities are more likely to avoid organisations with a negative diversity reputation and are twice as likely to dissuade others from engaging with such organisations. This highlights the importance of fostering inclusive and diverse workplaces to attract and retain talent, regardless of ability.
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Age and disability
Age is a significant factor in the prevalence of disability in Australia. The likelihood of having a disability increases with age, and as the Australian population ages, the number of people with disabilities is also increasing.
In 2022, there were 5.5 million Australians with disabilities, representing 21.4% of the total population. This is an increase from 4.4 million (17.7%) in 2018. The prevalence of disability is similar for men and women, with 21.8% of females and 21.0% of males living with a disability.
When looking at specific age groups, the numbers show that disability becomes more prevalent in older age groups. In 2022, 45% of people aged 15 or older with a disability and living in households had completed high school or an equivalent level of education. This is a notable increase from 2018, when the number was 33%.
The prevalence of disability is particularly high among those aged 65 and over. In 2022, more than half (52.3%) of Australians in this age group had a disability, an increase from 49.6% in 2018. This means that over 2.3 million older Australians are living with a disability. The likelihood of having a disability increases with age, and as people age, they become more likely to experience some form of disability.
The type of disability also varies with age. For example, people with sensory or speech disabilities are most likely to be aged 65 and over. Most people with physical disabilities are between 55 and 84 years old, while those with head injuries, strokes, or acquired brain injuries are typically 45 and older. In contrast, the proportion of people with intellectual disabilities is higher in the under-25 age group than in the total population. People with psychosocial disabilities are distributed more evenly across all age groups than any other disability group.
The increase in the prevalence of disability among older Australians has implications for social policy and the need for essential disability-related services and support. This includes the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which may need to cater to a growing number of people with profound impairments, which increased from 3.2% in 2018 to 4.1% in 2022.
In conclusion, age is a critical factor in the prevalence of disability in Australia, with older age groups experiencing higher rates of disability. The increasing number of older Australians, combined with the higher likelihood of disability at older ages, has led to a larger proportion of people with disabilities in this age group. This trend has significant implications for social policy and the need for disability services and support.
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Employment and discrimination
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) 2022 Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC), 5.5 million Australians have a disability, representing 21.4% of the population. This is an increase from 17.7% in 2018. The labour force participation rate for people aged 15-64 with a disability was 60.5% in 2022, up from 53.4% in 2018. However, the participation rate for people without disabilities was significantly higher at 84.9% in 2022. Of those with disabilities, 56.1% were employed, compared to 82.3% of people without disabilities.
People with disabilities face various barriers to employment, including transport issues and a lack of reasonable adjustments in the workplace. For example, employers may fail to provide safe access or assistive technology, making it difficult for people with disabilities to work safely and productively. Modelling also suggests that being an NDIS client reduces a person's chance of transitioning into work. Additionally, 35% of carers have a work-limiting disability, which can impact their ability to balance care responsibilities with employment.
Discrimination in the workplace is unlawful under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA). The DDA makes it illegal to discriminate against individuals with disabilities in various areas of public life, including employment. Despite these protections, disability discrimination remains prevalent in Australia. In 2022–23, 46% of complaints received by the Australian Human Rights Commission were about disability discrimination. In 2018, 16% of people aged 15–64 with a disability reported experiencing disability discrimination in the previous year, and 30% avoided going to work due to their disability. People with disabilities who experience discrimination from employers or colleagues are twice as likely to avoid work as those who experience discrimination from other sources.
The impact of discrimination on employment outcomes is significant. People with disabilities who have experienced discrimination are less likely to be employed than those who have not. This is partly due to the social isolation and limited social interactions that can result from discrimination, making it more challenging to access employment opportunities. Organisations with negative diversity reputations may also struggle to attract and retain employees with disabilities.
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Types of disability
According to the Australian Disability Network, 5.5 million Australians, or 21.4% of the population, had a disability in 2022. This is an increase from 17.7% in 2018. The prevalence of disability generally increases with age, with 50% of people aged 65 and over having a disability.
Disabilities can be broadly categorized into physical or mental impairments, and they can be progressive (e.g., muscular dystrophy), static (e.g., limb loss), or intermittent (e.g., some forms of multiple sclerosis). The impact of a disability can vary depending on external stressors, and treatments for medical conditions can often be more disabling than the condition itself. According to the World Health Organization, disability has three dimensions:
- Impairment: This refers to a loss or abnormality in a person's body structure or function, or mental functioning. Examples include loss of a limb, loss of vision, or memory loss.
- Activity limitation: This occurs at an individual level and refers to difficulties in performing tasks such as seeing, hearing, walking, or problem-solving. It also includes mobility impairments, which encompass any condition that makes it difficult to move, use upper and/or lower limbs.
- Participation restriction: This involves difficulties in engaging in life roles such as employment, education, or relationships.
Some specific types of disabilities include:
- Sensory or speech disabilities: These are more common in older individuals aged 65 and over. Examples include visual impairments, which can range from impaired vision to a complete lack of sight, and hearing impairments, which can vary in severity and may be genetic or caused by non-genetic factors.
- Physical disabilities: Most individuals with physical disabilities are between the ages of 55 and 84. Mobility impairments, as mentioned earlier, fall under this category.
- Intellectual disabilities: A higher proportion of individuals with intellectual disabilities are under the age of 25 compared to the total population. ADHD, a neurobiological genetic disorder characterized by difficulty sustaining focus and attention, hyperactivity, and/or difficulty controlling behavior, is one example of an intellectual disability.
- Psychosocial disabilities: These are distributed more evenly across all age groups than other disability types. Traumatic brain injuries, for instance, can result in complex and unique effects on cognitive, physical, sensory, or psychosocial abilities.
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Carers of people with disabilities
As of 2022, there are 5.5 million Australians with disabilities, representing 21.4% of the population. This is an increase from 17.7% in 2018, with the prevalence of disability being roughly the same for men and women (21.0% for men and 21.8% for women). The prevalence of disability increases with age, with around 1 in 8 (13%) people under 65 having some level of disability, rising to 1 in 2 (51-52.3%) for those aged 65 and over. This means that older Australians are more likely to have a disability, with over half of this age group having a disability in 2022.
Caring for people with disabilities is a significant aspect of supporting this population group. In Australia, there are approximately 3 million unpaid carers, constituting nearly 12% of all Australians living in households. Of these carers, 35% have a work-limiting disability themselves, and there were about 391,300 young carers under the age of 25 in 2022. The presence of a disability can impact labour force participation rates. In 2022, the labour force participation rate for people aged 15-64 with disabilities was 60.5%, compared to 84.9% for those without disabilities. This disparity is even more pronounced when examining full-time employment, with only 33.4% of people with disabilities employed full-time compared to 57.9% of those without disabilities.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a crucial support system for people with disabilities in Australia. However, modelling suggests that being an NDIS client may reduce a person's chances of transitioning into employment by around seven percentage points. This highlights the complex interplay between disability, caregiving, and labour force participation.
The increase in the prevalence of disability poses challenges for social policy and government planning. With an ageing population, the demand for caregiving services is likely to increase. It is essential for governments to work closely with representative bodies and advocate for the needs of people with disabilities to ensure they receive the necessary support and resources to live with dignity.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) defines a carer as someone who provides any informal assistance or supervision to people with disabilities or older people (aged 65 and over). This can include helping with everyday activities, as about 40% of older Australians living in households require some assistance. The SDAC (Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers) collects information about employment characteristics for people aged 15 and over living in households, contributing to our understanding of the intersection between disability, ageing, and labour force participation.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2022, 21.4% of Australians have a disability, which is about 5.5 million people. This is an increase from 17.7% in 2018.
In 2022, 2.3 million older Australians had a disability, representing 52.3% of all older Australians. This is an increase from 49.6% in 2018.
In 2022, 21.0% of males in Australia had a disability.
In 2022, 21.8% of females in Australia had a disability.
